Former state prosecutor named in civil rights lawsuit

Mark Woodworth, of Chillicothe, is suing a former special state prosecutor and others he says conspired to violate his civil rights through a false arrest and malicious prosecution.

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 12:27:04 GMT —

A northwest Missouri man who spent nearly a quarter-century trying to clear his name after he was twice convicted in his neighbor's shooting death is suing a former special state prosecutor and others he says conspired to violate his civil rights through a false arrest and malicious prosecution.

Mark Woodworth, of Chillicothe, filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. The filing comes less than one month after a special prosecutor dismissed a first-degree murder charge against Woodworth, finding insufficient probable cause while opting against a third trial in Cathy Robertson's 1990 death.

The lawsuit names former state prosecutor Kenny Hulshof, later a six-term U.S. congressman; shooting survivor Lyndel Robertson and his daughter, Rochelle Koehly; the Livingston County Sheriff's Department; and 10 others.